Cloth board



y 23, 1933 c. M. BUTLER 1310589 CLOTH BOARD Filed June 17, 1932 gwwmtor mbnm ma %%%M%W%MQ Patented May 23, 1933 s'res PATET OFFICE CHALMERS 1W. BUTLER, OF HARTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROLITIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO HOWARD A. EDWARDS, OF CEDAETOWN, GEORGIA, AND ONE-THIRD TO SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY, OF HARTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROL-INA, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA CLOTH BOARD Application filed June 17,

This invention relates to devices designed and intended for use as supporting cores for bolts of cloth or the like, commonly known as cloth boards.

Cloth boards of various types are now, and have been in the past, Widely used especially by cloth manufacturers and merchants who may have on display large numbers of bolts of cloth of various kinds. The most commonly used type of cloth board is probably the wooden board comprising simply a fiat rectangular wooden member around which the cloth is wound into the form of a bolt. Other types of cloth boards for special cloths have been suggested, but in general these boards have been relatively expensive so that reuse is necessary for economy.

In accordance with the present invention, a cloth board is provided which is of such simple nature and construction and may be so inexpensively fabricated that it need only be used once and then discarded without appreciable loss. The novel cloth board likewise has the advantage of light weight, is attractive in appearance, and provides surfaces at the end of the cloth board upon which advertising matter or identifying legends may be inscribed, which matter will be readily legible to the merchant or customer without disturbing the cloth.

By way of example, one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that minor changes may be made in adapting the invention to various uses without departure from its spirit and scope.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the improved board; and

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough, showing, however, a few layers of a cloth bolt supported by the board.

Essentially the board comprises three elements, a body port-ion indicated at 10 and end portions indicated at 11. The body is preferably rectangular in plan, and the ends are preferably in the form of tubes of circular cross-section provided with longitudi- 1932. Serial No. 617,896.

nal slots into which parallel marginal portions of the body 10 project, so as to be con cealed and protected by the end members. Both the body 10 and the end members 11 are preferably fabricated of stiff paper, which may be several plies in thickness, so that the resulting structure is relatively stiff and strong and well able to withstand mechanical shock and strain due to shipment and usage.-

The end members are furthermore preferably first constructed as complete tubes and thereafter slotted as shown, the slots formed in such members being less in width than the clearance of the body 11 so that, when these members are positioned as shown in the drawing, the marginal portions of the ends of the body are clamped between the parallel edges of the slots in the tubular end'members. By this method of fabrication and assembly, the side walls of the slots formed in the end members are caused to fit tightly against the opposed surfaces of the body, and the members also tend to remain in the position shown by reason of their frictional engagement with the body. A suitable adhesive, however, may be, and preferably is, utilized to further secure the end members in position.

Finally, fiber sheets such as paper sheets are secured over the ends of the board, the mid portions of these sheets fitting closely around the end members 11 and the margins being secured to the upper and lower faces of the body, as shown. These sheets may be of cloth if desired, but I prefer to fabricate them of paper and to print upon that portion thereof which is visible after a length of cloth has been wound upon the core any advertising matter or identifying legends which may be thought necessary or desirable. The sheets are preferably also secured in position by a suitable adhesive substance and naturally, therefore, constitute additional securing means whereby the end members 11 are firmly and rigidly retained in the positions shown.

When the board just described is fabricated of paper, it is of light weight, and its original cost is but little. t may constitute a means, therefore, for the packaging, shipment, display, and sale of even the most inexpensive cloths and may be discarded after the cloth has been completely removed. WVhile I prefer to manufacture the board thus described of paper, the use of this material is not absolutely essential, and other materials may be employed Where conditions Warrant.

In some cases it may be desirable to apply tubular members to the side edges, as Well as the ends, of the board. Preferably, Where this is done, the ends of the side and end members are mitered so as to fit closely together and thus form a continuous bead or rim around the edge of the board.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as nevv and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

vAn article of manufacture comprising a cloth board having a substantially fiat rectangular body member of stiff paper, marginal elements therefor, each comprising a longitudinally slotted resilient paper tube, the adjacent margin of the body projecting through the slot in said tube and being); resiliently gripped between the edges of the tube which define said slot, the edge of said body being thus enveloped, protected, and stiffened by the tube, and a flexible sheet of fabric or the like having an intermediate portion encircling and vclosely engaging the outer surface of said tubular element and other portions closely engaging opposed adjacent top and bottom faces of the body, said sheet being retained in such position by an adhesive so asto comprise a covering, retaining, and reinforcing member.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

CHALMERS M. BUTLER. 

